Every time I ask for recommendations, it’s always the same titles. I’m bored of it, seriously. I’m looking for that hidden gem — the kind of book that makes you say, “Why on earth isn’t this famous?” Genre doesn’t matter, as long as it’s truly underrated.
by xenit0
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Of Mountains, men and deer by Brian Burdon
Fine here!
The Switch – Elmore Leonard
Are you looking for a book to read or titles you can fantasize about reading?
The Cellist by Jennifer Atkins
Anything written by Jennifer Clement. Start with Gun Love maybe.
the fuck up
me talk pretty one day
Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E Feist
It was popular in the 80s but has rlly died. There is a Fandom here on reddit but there isnt many ppl my age which sucks
Hit the library, thrift store bookshelf, or used bookstore. Just cruise around and let something jump out at you.
I do quite love a lot of popular books, but I have a few underrated books I wish *would* become popular so I had people to talk to them about. I think that’s honestly one of the nice things about books becoming super popular and loved – you can find lots of like minded folks and can gush about something you’re certain other people have read and adored just as much as you. With that being said here’s my list of things I wish I had people to talk to about:
*The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth* by *Veerporn Nitiprapha*
*Les Chants de Maldoror* by *Comte de Lautréamont*
*Unlanguage* by *Michael Cisco*
*The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine*
(That last one I actually do get to talk about often because I’m friends with a lot of medical workers)
A couple of nonfiction offerings.
Of Tigers & Men – Richard Ives
and
Full Tilt – Dervla Murphy
Slewfoot by Brom
(s)
A Month in the Country by J L Carr, a lovely, short, quiet meditative book about the small things, the subtle effects of war which linger long after, and about art and architecture.
Quin’s Shanghai Circus by Edward Whittemore
The Love We Share Without Knowing by Chris Barzak
The Fountains of Neptune by Rikki Ducornet
Animal Money by Michael Cisco
Crook Factory by Dan Simmons
The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce
Eden Mine by SM Hulse
The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
i will never understand why the power of one by bryce courtenay never shows up on the reco lists.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey. Black comedy crime and one I’ve read quite a few times. Every time I read it I can’t believe someone hasn’t made a movie out of it. Has kind of In Bruges/Fargo vibes
Any of the poetry books by Percival R Roberts. Hard to find, but excellent.
Ex-Wife, The Oppermanns, During the Reign of the Queen of Persia, Consequences, The Heads of Cerberus, Babbcombe’s, Troy Chimneys, Early Autumn.
Light From Other Stars by Erica Swyler
I love “A Trip to the Stars” and no one has ever heard of it. Nicholas Christopher is the author.
Stoner by John Edward Williams
It’s a classic, I rarely see it mentioned. It’s one of my favorites.
I think Dan Chaon’s novels are super underrated. Every book of his I read I think, “why isn’t this guy more well-known?” I am especially fond of **Sleepwalk** and **Await Your Reply**.
Reddit is not the place to go for hidden gems. (Nor is BookTok) For better recommendations, you need to try your local public library – perhaps, hopefully. They most likely have displays, booklists (printed or on their website). Some libraries have “bespoke” recommendation service for library card holders.